NINJA GAIDEN Σ places players in the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a young ninja trained in the Hayabusa style, amid stages inspired by a westernized Japan and motifs from the spirit world. Its central appeal is fast, demanding action against formidable opponents, with difficulty options that include both a forgiving Hero Mode and settings designed to challenge experienced action players.
Hero Mode changes how a desperate fight unfolds: when health is low, the character automatically guards and evades, while ninpo can be used freely. The collection also features playable heroines Ayane, Rachel, Momiji, and Kasumi across its included games, though the available characters and scenes vary by title. In NINJA GAIDEN Σ2, TAG MISSIONS let players choose two characters and switch between them during a mission, while NINJA RACE emphasizes speed, timed traversal, enemy chains, and pickups that extend time or boost speed.
As one game in a collection of three NINJA GAIDEN titles, Σ is built around solo action rather than online multiplayer; the store lists it as single-player. The collection also includes Σ2 and NINJA GAIDEN 3: Razor’s Edge, whose characters and modes differ from Σ’s.